Wesley Corpus

You cannot think faith implies assurance; an assurance of the love of God to our souls, of his being now reconciled to us, and having forgiven all our sins. And this we freely confess, that, if number of voices is to decide the ques tion, we must give it up at once: For you have on your side, not only some who desire to be Christians indeed; but all nominal Christians in every place; and the Romish Church, one and all. Nay, these last are so vehement in your defence, that, in the famed Council of Trent, they have decreed, “If any man hold (fiduciam) trust, confidence, or assurance of pardon, to be essential to faith, let him be accursed.” 59. Thus does that Council anathematize the Church of Eng land; for she is convicted hereof by her own confession. The very words in the Homily on Salvation are, “Even the devils believe that Christ was born of a virgin; that he wrought all kind of miracles, declaring himself very God; that for our sakes he suffered a most painful death, to redeem us from death ever lasting. These articles of our faith the devils believe; and so they believe all that is written in the Old and New Testament. And yet, for all this faith, they be but devils. They remain still in their damnable estate, lacking the very true, Christian faith. “The right and true Christian faith is, not only to believe the Holy Scriptures, and the articles of our faith, are true; but also to have a sure trust and confidence, to be saved from everlasting damnation through Christ.” Or, (as it is ex pressed a little after,) “a sure trust and confidence which a man hath in God, that by the merits of Christ his sins are forgiven, and he reconciled to the favour of God.” 60. Indeed, the Bishop of Rome saith, “If any man hold this, let him be an Anathema Maranatha.” But it is to be hoped, Papal anathemas do not move you. You are a member of the Church of England. Are you? Then the controversy is at an end. Then hear the Church: “Faith is a sure trust which a man hath in God, that his sins are forgiven.” Or, if you are not, whether you hear our Church or no, at least hear the Scrip tures.